2026 Workshop Presenters
Deb Almond
Deb Almond is a Washington, DC-based artist whose work serves as a visual message of solidarity with women and girls. After a decade-long career in global sexual and reproductive health, Deb returned to painting in early 2020. Her art is a direct extension of her core belief that a woman’s power to choose her own path depends on her education, health, safety, economic security, and freedom to express her true sexuality and gender. Drawing inspiration from global protest art and her own journey, Deb’s vibrant pieces weave together messages of unity and resistance. Originally from London, Deb has called the District home since 2014.
Kim Narby
Kim Narby is a queer fiction writer and essayist from Seattle. She has organized with the New York City Dyke March, and is an alum of the McCormack Writing Center (formerly known as the Tin House Summer workshop). Kim lives in Brooklyn with her anxious-attached cocker spaniel, Georgia. Her debut novel Saturn Returning, about a trio of messy lesbians in their 20s, was published with the Sapph-Lit imprint of Bindery Books in May 2026. You can find her on social media @kimnarby.
Mia Arias Tsang
Mia Arias Tsang is a writer based in New York City. Her work explores how queer people try and fail to love each other. Her essays have appeared in Autostraddle, Half Mystic Press, HerSTRY, Copy Magazine, Blood Tree Literature, and elsewhere. Her first collection, FRAGMENTS OF WASTED DEVOTION, is out now with Quilted Press. She lives in Queens with her cat, Peanut, and is working on a novel. You can find her on social media @@mia.arias.tsang.
Irina Normatov
I glow by connecting deep in nature— ocean, mountain, jungle, forests, cultural experience, and beyond. Beyond our human/skin- we are fairies.
My family and I immigrated to NYC from Uzbekistan (a part of the Soviet Union) in 1989, and I've been "Americanized" for 36 years while staying deeply connected to my Middle Eastern, Mizrahi, and Sephardic roots. I'm a proud New Yorker with a love for nature. I enjoy writing, photography, traveling, sunrises/sunsets, music, and swimming in the ocean. I'm also a fur mom to Emma, an almost 12 year old Maltese/Shih Tzu. In flow, I show up as an interpreter, dharma/soul joy coach, caregiver, and coordinator— I believe in the power of light exchanging within souls to souls. We each bring a gift in our own ways.
You can connect with me at @irinamiriam.
SALARAH Nazheri
Salarah is a wellness practitioner, creative, and educator whose work bridges holistic healing, the arts, and modern care practices. With experience in massage therapy, yoga, herbalism, and healthcare, her approach centers on embodied living, eco-psychology principles, and community-centered wellness. Her work explores the relationship between wellness, creativity, and the environments we inhabit, highlighting nostalgia, imagination, ritual, and communal care as essential tools for individual and collective well-being. Through sensory experiences, creative practice, movement, and conversation, she encourages others to cultivate lives that feel more spacious, intentional, connected, and alive. Website: salarah.com / ekofa.earth Instagram: @honeysuckleharvest
2026 ASL Interpreter Team
Sarah Fornelli-Pepitone
I’m looking forward to spending time with all the incredible Women of the Wild!
Born and raised in the Garden State, I’m a Jersey girl at heart. Nature has always played a big role in shaping who I am—there’s nothing that nourishes and grounds my soul quite like time spent outdoors.
I completed my ITP in Houston, TX, and spent a few years interpreting in Boston before making my way to Brooklyn. These days, I live on the Hudson in New York with my wife and our curious kitten, Luna. When I’m not outside, you can usually find me crafting, strumming my guitar or soaking up quality time with the people I love.
I aim to create a safe, accessible space where everyone feels seen and held.
Can’t wait to see y’all in the woods!
Serena James
My name is Serena,
I am from the PNW and currently live in Denver Colorado. I have been Interpreting since 2018 and have been loving the field and all the opportunities to grow in work and as a human. I enjoy being in nature, creating things, and making new friends, and pouring into the ones I have.
Alisa Besher
I've been interpreting since 2020 after a meandering career in arts/museum education, cultural events programming and university based public humanities projects. What connects all my work experiences is a curiosity for learning, new environments and the chance to meet people passionate about their niche in the world. I'm originally from Russia, based in Queens, NY and a proud NYC resident for the past 22 years. In the city I enjoy being in queer community, spending time with my recently adopted foster-fail cat, Maeby, and checking out museum exhibitions. I'm also slowly but surely learning how to use my sewing machine. Even though I'm a city dweller, I'm most at ease swimming in natural water or in the woods, so am very excited for this retreat!
Jac Terrio
Jac Terrio is a nationally certified Deaf Parented Interpreter located in Richmond, Virginia, who has done freelance American Sign Language interpreting in a variety of settings since 2016. They graduated from University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish, and an associate degree from Tulsa Community College in the interpreter training program.
Some of their accomplishments include Oklahoma State Court Certification, Project CLIMB, Deaflympics, teaching English abroad in Spain, and was a member in the first cohort of the Certificate in Trilingual Interpreting program through the Rochester Institute of Technology. Their future goals are to professionally interpret in Spanish, ASL, and English, as well as volunteer at the local Equality Center with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In their free time, they enjoy spending time with their niblings, biking, traveling, and are a semi-expert hacky sacker. They can be contacted at: jacterrio3@gmail.com.
Allyson Ray
Hey there, I'm Allyson but most people call me Al. I am a Sign Language Interpreter from Washington, DC who works 10 months out of the year in a K-12 educational setting. The rest of the time I work in various settings including community, government, and medical. When I'm not working I am traveling. I'm just a little bit obsessed with Orcas and just recently went to Vancouver to see them in the wild. I grew up camping with my family. Any holiday, long weekend, or break we would hit the road to a different place and set up camp. Nature really is healing and I am very excited to experience this gathering with you all.